Abstract
Acute bovine liver disease (ABLD) is a hepatotoxicity principally of cattle which occurs in southern regions of Australia. Severely affected animals undergo rapid clinical progression with mortalities often occurring prior to the recognition of clinical signs. Less severely affected animals develop photosensitization and a proportion can develop liver failure. The characteristic histopathological lesion in acute fatal cases is severe, with acute necrosis of periportal hepatocytes with hemorrhage into the necrotic areas. Currently there are a small number of toxins that are known to cause periportal necrosis in cattle, although none of these have so far been linked to ABLD. Furthermore, ABLD has frequently been associated with the presence of rough dog’s tail grass (Cynosurus echinatus) and Drechslera spp. fungi in the pasture system, but it is currently unknown if these are etiological factors. Much of the knowledge about ABLD is contained within case reports, with very little experimental research investigating the specific cause(s). This review provides an overview of the current and most recently published knowledge of ABLD. It also draws on wider research and unpublished reports to suggest possible fungi and mycotoxins that may give rise to ABLD.
Highlights
Acute bovine liver disease (ABLD), formerly known as phytotoxic hepatitis, is a hepatotoxic disease principally affecting grazing beef and dairy cattle regardless of age, sex, or breed (Table 1).There have been two documented cases of mycotoxicoses in sheep with a similar epidemiology to ABLD, which implies ABLD may not be specific to cattle [1,2]
This review will focus on ABLD affecting cattle but much of the evidence presented is likely to be applicable to affected sheep
ABLD affecting cattle is observed in the southeastern states of Australia (Victoria, Tasmania and parts of South Australia) [3,4], with at least one report of a possible occurrence in Western
Summary
Acute bovine liver disease (ABLD), formerly known as phytotoxic hepatitis, is a hepatotoxic disease principally affecting grazing beef and dairy cattle regardless of age, sex, or breed (Table 1). In addition to clinical findings, some case reports include limited epidemiological observations such as environmental and weather conditions, seasonality, and the presence or absence of plants of interest [7]. Rough dog’s tail grass was present in the two reports of mycotoxicosis in sheep [1,2]. Risk factors for ABLD identified by state departments include long-standing dead or dry grass from the previous seasons, and the presence of rough dog’s tail grass [10,11]. It is likely that additional cases of unrecognized or unreported ABLD occur. This has resulted in speculation on the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. The current advice to graziers includes avoiding putting cattle on high-risk paddocks, grazing out high-risk paddocks with sheep to reduce the amount of dry standing grass, cultivating high-risk paddocks, and grazing a small number of cattle on high-risk paddocks to test for toxicity
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